'The Jungle Book' strengthen through Idris Elba's Shere Kahn
The best part of Disney’s live action The Jungle Book is Idris Elba’s performance as the tiger Shere Khan. Elba’s vocal characterization and the accompanying animation creates a villain that has weight. Khan is forceful, violent and chaotic. There is no telling what the tiger will do next.
The Sherman Brothers music survives and gains new life through the performance of Kaa’s “Trust in Me,” voiced by Scarlet Johansson, whose performance is seductive, soothing and well-translated to the live action version. Unfortunately, Kaa itself is a superfluous character whose only real reason to exist is to introduce Mowgli to Baloo. Everything else that the audience learns from Kaa is also learned elsewhere, which is too bad because Kaa is amazingly delivered.
Christopher Walken does his best Marlon Brando impersonation, but his song performance needs more cowbell. As King Louie, Walken’s well-known voice is a little distracting, but the sequence does play to the animated versions madcap song and dance without getting cartoony. There is a nice balance between keeping the intent of the original and maintaining the state of the new. Neel Sethi did an awesome job at delivering his performance.
The Jungle Book was made for 3D. From the opening Disney title until midway through the end credits. It is clear that Jon Favreau framed the film in 3 dimensions and the scenery is absolutely gorgeous. The film is an enjoyable romp through the jungle, and the ending is different than what audience members, who have seen the animated version, may expect.
Check out Romney's Review of the Jungle Book!
The Sherman Brothers music survives and gains new life through the performance of Kaa’s “Trust in Me,” voiced by Scarlet Johansson, whose performance is seductive, soothing and well-translated to the live action version. Unfortunately, Kaa itself is a superfluous character whose only real reason to exist is to introduce Mowgli to Baloo. Everything else that the audience learns from Kaa is also learned elsewhere, which is too bad because Kaa is amazingly delivered.
Christopher Walken does his best Marlon Brando impersonation, but his song performance needs more cowbell. As King Louie, Walken’s well-known voice is a little distracting, but the sequence does play to the animated versions madcap song and dance without getting cartoony. There is a nice balance between keeping the intent of the original and maintaining the state of the new. Neel Sethi did an awesome job at delivering his performance.
The Jungle Book was made for 3D. From the opening Disney title until midway through the end credits. It is clear that Jon Favreau framed the film in 3 dimensions and the scenery is absolutely gorgeous. The film is an enjoyable romp through the jungle, and the ending is different than what audience members, who have seen the animated version, may expect.
Check out Romney's Review of the Jungle Book!